Coming from a time when diesel engines were still a thing in the United States, this X5 35d hides a privacy. Since the SUV is built to US specifications, it has a single-turbo engine instead of its European counterpart’s twin-turbo setup. However, this is not a typical F15 as its powertrain has been modified to generate enough energy.
Wearing Stuttgart plates, US-spec X5 35d tuners have been dropped to upgrade the UK’s Darkside Developments’ 3.0-liter engine. In fact, aftermarket experts have replaced the original turbo with a Garrett GTD2873VR turbocharger. Also, the SUV got a Biffer FMIC intercooler and a custom downpipe to unlock critical power from the oil-burner.
The Dino Run shows 600 pound-feet (814 Newton-meters) of torque and 413 horsepower. It still has the stock eight-speed ZF gearbox because it can easily handle the extra load. We remind you that the stock X5 35d sold in North America had 255 hp and 413 lb-ft (560 Nm). As a result, it’s no surprise that this tuned version is faster.
This X5 35d is not a slash
In fact, the diesel monster hit 60 miles (96 km / h) in 4.66 seconds and 100 miles (161 km / h) in 11.86 seconds. Perhaps even more impressive is the quarter-mile race in less than 13 seconds. It’s still a heavy vehicle with a diesel engine, and as an SUV, it doesn’t have the best drag coefficient. These numbers weren’t easy to find because the ECU took some time to customize, but the Darkside developers finally cracked the code. Much more needs to be done to make the N57 more powerful, as the tuner will work on fuel systems and camshafts.
As of 2016MY, the X5d was made in the United States towards the end of the diesel BMW era, as all were eliminated after 2018MY. The decision was made in the wake of the VW Group’s dieselgate, which has greatly reduced the demand for diesel vehicles.
Source: Darkside Developments / YouTube